Mammootty was born and raised in the village of Chempu near Anakapalli in the Kottayam district of the state of Kerala, India in a middle class, Muslim family. He was the eldest son of the family. His father Ismail was a farmer and his mother Fatima was unemployed. Mammootty's father shifted his family to Ernakulam during the 1960s; his school life was at St. Albert's School and Government School Ernakulam. He did his Pre-University course (pre-degree) at Maharajas College, Kochi, and then graduated with a L.L.B. (Bachelor of Laws) from Ernakulam Government Law College. He also practised law for two years in Manjeri. He married Sulfath in 1980 and has a daughter, Surumi (b. 1982) and a son, Dulquer Salman (b. 1986). Mammootty's younger brother Ebrahimkutty is a television and film actor in Malayalam. Ebrahimkutty's son Maqbool Salmaan is also a film actor.[12]

It seems Kochi Metro Authorities are taking a cue from their Cochin Corporation Masters. While the lords at the corporation were 'unanimous' against the widening of the South ROB (God knows the logic behind!), their junior counterpart the KMRL seems to find better logic in carrying out the Metro Rail construction along the most important M.G Road even before the preparatory work of widening the road is carried out.

Finally, we hope the authorities doesn't come with an explanation that widening is not required along M.G Road. After all, we have some of the big business houses, along the stretch, that can fill many pockets.